Collapsible bridge table



Jan. 2l, 1936. w. s. RlTcHlE COLLAPSIBLE BRIDGE TABLE Filed Dec. '27, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2` /Nl/ENTOQ VV. Q/ TCH/15 Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE COLLAPSIBLE BRIDGE TABLE William S. Ritchie, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in collapsible bridge tables and an Object of the invention is to provide a collapsible bridge table in Which the four legs may be extended in one simple movement of a lever or handle beneath the table.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible bridge table of this character Which when extended is rigid and serviceable.

A further object of my invention is to provide a bridge table of this character, the legs of which when collapsed against the under' side of the table top, Will stay rigidly in that position until extended.

A further object of my invention is to provide a collapsible bridge table of this character which is economical to manufacture and will not become out of order.

With the foregoing more important objects in View and such other minor objects as may appear as the specification proceeds, my device consists in the arrangement and construction of parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawngs, in Which:-

Fig. l is a side elevation of my table with the legs broken.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the under side of my table with the legs extended.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the under side of my table with the legs folded into the collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a similar section to Fig. 4 but With the legs partially unfolded.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail showing my spring clip from the side.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of my spring clip.

Fig. 8 is a side view of my spring clip.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different gures.

While I am aware of the existence of various types of collapsible bridge tables, extendable by ing. J ournalled in orices l vin these cross members is adouble crank 8 and extending from this double crank, is a handle S.

Crank arms ID and I I are freely mounted upon each of the crank portions I2 and I3 respectively, the opposite ends of the crank arms being connected to cranks I4 and I5. The cranks I4 and I5 are formed in a pair of rods IB and I'I, the ends of which are rigidly secured to the upper ends of the legs 4 and 5. The rods IG and I'I are rmly mounted for rotational movement in bearings I8 secured to the under side of the tablesurface. l

Projecting members I3 in the form of springs are mounted upon one of the members 6. These may be of any desired form and are for the purpose of securing the handle 9 parallel with the member ii when the legs are extended or collapsed.

I would here mention that further cross members 20 are provided for the purpose of imparting further rigidity to the Whole structure and for providing additional bearings for the cranks I6 and IT.

Assuming the table to be collapsed as shown in Figure 3, it is merely necessary to grasp the handle 8 and swing it through an arc of 180 inI order to extend the legs of the table as shown in Figure 2. While this action is taking place, the cranks I2 and I3 Will reverse their positions which will cause the crank arms III and II to push the cranks I4 and I5 from their positions parallel with the under side of the table surface into the perpendicular thereby causing the legs to extend perpendicularly to the table surface.

In this Way, it may be seen that I have provided mechanism for extending and collapsing the legs of a small table such as a card table, very simply and efficiently and have devised a construction which is economical to manufacture and that cannot become out of order.

Since various modifications can be made in the above invention, and many apparently Widely different embodiments of same, made within the scope of the claims Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specication shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense and I desire only such limitations placed thereon as are specifically expressed in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:-

1. A collapsible table comprising, a combination With a table surface and swingable legs attached thereto and lying therebeneath, rotatable rods extending between pairs of said legs, crank portions upon said rods, further cranking means beneath said table, a lever attached to said further cranking means, crank arms extending between said further cranking means and said crank portions, said lever being manually operable to swing said legs into extended or closed position.

2. A collapsible table comprising, in combination with a table surface and swingable legs attached thereto and lying therebeneath, a rod rigidly attached adjacent the upper ends of pairs of said legs and extending therethrough, an angulated crank portion upon each of said rods, bearings beneath said table and double and contiguous opposed cranks journalled in said bearing, a lever arm extending from said cranks, crank arms connecting said contiguous opposed cranks with said angulated cranking portion,

said lever being manually operable to rotate said cranks and swing said legs into extended or closed position.

3. A collapsible table comprising, in combination with a table surface and swingable legs attached thereto and lying therebeneath, rods extending between, through and rigidly attached to pairs of said legs adjacent the upper ends thereof, a portion of said rods being angulated to form cranking portions, a bearing beneath said table, a rod bent angularly to form a pair of contiguous opposed cranks, the end of said rod being bent to form a lever arm, a pair of crank arms extending between said contiguous cranks and said cranking portions, said lever being manually operable to swing said legs into extended or closed position.

WILLIAM S. RITCHIE. 

